Program

The Department of Art and Art History dev elops students’ critical thinking skills, creativity, knowledge of aesthetics, and awareness of our western and non-western art heritage

Undergraduate

We offer degree options in Art Studio, Art History, Art Education, and Interior Design. The department supports liberal arts
degrees (Bachelor of Arts) focusing on art within a broad program of general studies; and professional degrees (Bachelor of
Fine Arts), which require intensive work in art and design, while supported by general studies. The BFA Program is preparation
for professional practice.

Students enrolled in the BA in Art, Option in Art Education who plan to teach at the K–12 levels must qualify for a California teaching credential in art, which includes completing a professional education program. For prerequisites and other admission requirements to this program, see the “Education” chapter of the
University Catalog.

Graduate

Our graduate degrees include Art Studio and Art History. The Master of Fine Arts in Art is a professional studio degree program
that incorporates a comprehensive background in the fine arts as well as advanced development in patterns of studio specialization.
The degree offers students progressive course work in critical theory, practiced criticism, and art history. The studio and
academic experience gives students the opportunity to synthesize information while engaging in original research and significant
creative studio work. Studio concentrations include ceramics, drawing, glass design, painting, photography, printmaking, and
sculpture. The Master of Arts in Art is an initial graduate degree in Art History, designed to prepare students for scholarly
research. MA students focus on a broad knowledge of the history of art as well as a specific area.

Faculty

Department of Art and Art History faculty are a dedicated group of artists and scholars deeply involved with art, both student
work and their own. As teachers, they maintain high standards that employ both well-tested and innovative methods. In class
and individual critiques, faculty investigate aesthetic, political, historical, and ethical issues.Our artists, scholars,
and designers have won public commissions, shown with established museums and galleries, received awards for teaching, written
for key journals, and have been participants at conferences in the United States and abroad. Renowned visiting artists, art
historians, and critics introduce challenging concepts in lectures, exhibitions, workshops, and critiques of student work.

Facilities

Students work in well-equipped labs and studios for ceramics, electronic art, painting and drawing, photography, printmaking,
sculpture, and interior design. Woodshops and welding shops are available (safety training required). The Ira LaTour Visual
Resources Center houses a collection of 100,000 slides, books, videos, CDs, and periodicals covering western and non-western
art. Library holdings are substantial and regularly augmented by a generous bequest from the Walter Kohn Art History Endowment.
The University Art Gallery and Janet Turner Print Museum mount shows of historical and contemporary art every semester, as
well as maintaining permanent study collections. Three on-campus galleries display student work, as do private galleries in
the community.

Career Outlook

Professional degrees in art, emphasizing problem-solving and creativity, lead to a variety of career opportunities. CSU, Chico
alumni teach at all levels, own galleries, work as studio artists, museum curators, arts administrators, muralists, illustrators,
and fashion designers. Some become designers for design companies, architectural firms, or department and furniture stores.
Others work as renderers, set or kitchen designers, wholesale market representatives, lighting designers, and historic preservation
design specialists. Still more are involved with computer graphics, film and video production, art publishing, art restoration,
and the design and production of high quality crafts.